Patch Candidate Profile: Porter McKinnon, Shelton Alderman

SHELTON, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Shelton and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Shelton-Derby Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Republican Porter McKinnon is a Shelton resident running for the Board of Aldermen in the First Ward.

Education

Stamford Catholic High School; Pennsylvania State University

What is your occupation?

Vice President, Art & Print Production at Penny Publications

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

N/R

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes. First Ward Alderman (2021 to present).

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I love the City of Shelton. It is a great city that continues to get better and grow and I think I can help continue this growth.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Funding for the BOE. There is a lot of misinformation out there about the BOE not being fully funded, when in fact it is. The City supports the schools in many ways that aren't reflected in the budget by funding new roofs, paving, new windows, transportation, pay-to-participate and the list goes on and on. Most people don't realize this. We need to work closely with the BOE to make sure they are spending their budget wisely.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I don't know my opponents so I can't speak to our differences on a one-to-one basis. What I can say is that Shelton was just named the #1 city in Connecticut based on several metrics including affordability, economic health, education & health, quality of life and safety. You can't do better than that!

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Continued growth, having a low mill rate to keep taxes low for all residents and the business community, balanced spending and providing quality education for Shelton's students.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As the Vice President of Art and Print Production at Penny Publications (which publishes over 800 titles and prints over 50 million books per year), I manage the budgets and negotiate the contracts for the art, typesetting and print production departments and understand the importance of controlling spending, labor costs and waste.

I have been actively involved with Shelton athletics, coaching youth soccer, and volunteering with the SHS Quarterback Club for 8 years, and serving as president for 6 years. In that time I worked closely with the school administration as well as the Board of Education to enhance the experience of not only the football players, but all scholar athletes. I was also a member of the Derby Shelton Rotary Club for 5 years volunteering my time to help raise money to support the community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

As spoken by Jim Valvano: "Don't give up. Don't ever give up."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I manage budgets, track spending and negotiate contracts every day in the real world where every dollar counts and you can't just raise taxes to make ends meet. These are the skills needed for this position.